What the F*** am I going to make for dinner? (*Part Two - Weekend Edition)

Who likes BEEF?
Who likes COMFORT FOOD?
Who likes PINA COLADAS?

That third one had nothing to do with the other two. I just really want a pina colada right now.

So it's November in New Jersey and despite the fact that it's been unseasonably warm all week, the weather man assures us that proper holiday weather is just around the corner. Cold weather and blustery, rainy (or *gasp* snowy) weekends call for big pots of stews and creamy soups to warm the body and the soul and while we are at it, feed all four of us with enough leftovers for a few lunches. I look forward to this season of cooking because it means I get to bust out my Super Beefy Stew. It's hearty, it's easy, I would imagine you could find a way to do it in a crock pot, and nothing tastes better with some buttered crusty bread on the side. I make a big pot and sniff it happily until it's done imagining the moment I get to stick it in my face hole and squeal with delight.

So here you go:

MOM'S SUPER BEEFY STEW

What you will need:

• About two pounds of cubed beef
• 48 oz box of beef stock or beef broth
• 1 large yellow onion, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 3 good sized potatoes, peeled and chopped
• Two cans vegetable soup
• 3 or 4 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 TBS Olive Oil
• 2 TBS flour
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 or 3 bay leaves
• 1 TBS Italian seasoning
• 1 TBS onion powder
• 1 TBS garlic powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste

In a large stew pot, heat the olive oil
Add garlic and onions, chopped
Cook to translucent
In a separate bowl, sprinkle the flour on beef cubes and mix well
Sprinkle with salt and pepper and onion powder
Add beef cubes and flour to pot and brown.
Once browned, remove beef cubes but leave everything else.
Pour in cup of wine and scrape all that goodness off the bottom of the pot until you have a nice creamy winey' mess of wonderful.
Add your beef back in.
Add vegetable soup. Heat and stir.
Add beef stock. Heat and stir,
Add potatoes and carrots.
Add onion and garlic powder and Italian seasoning
Add bay leaves.
Add salt and pepper.

Now go get yourself a glass of wine, put your feet up, and let this goodness simmer for 2 or three hours. Let that smell fill your home.

Stir occasionally.

Check on it. Ready? Looking good? All that potato starch make it nice and thick?

Yeah baby! Get yourself a bowl.